"Come on, Elle. You can find somewhere if you really want to. All I'm saying is keep your head down and your nose out of the limelight. You know this will pass over. Someone will have an affair with someone or do something stupid, and people will forget all about this. Let your fans fight for you. I guarantee they won't be happy when your character just disappears. Fans are more loyal than agents or costars."
Ellie sighed. "You're right. I just need to disappear. But I'm not going anywhere. I love this house, and this will finally be my opportunity to live in it rather than just use the facilities in between work hours."
"I can stay with you, if you want."
"No," Ellie argued. "You have your own life. I mean, you can come over. You're always welcome. But spending some time alone won't be the worst thing that ever happened to me."
She contemplated her words when she arrived home the following afternoon after doing a major grocery shopping trip so she could begin her seclusion and found her entire house ransacked. The power box at the pole had been opened and her electricity cut so that her alarm didn't go off. Nita had come over while the police were going through the house.
"And nothing was stolen?"
Ellie shook her head. "Not from what I can tell. I showed the cops around and then they asked me to come out here."
"Do you think it was Curtis?" Nita asked. "It makes sense."
"But does it?" Ellie shrugged. "I don't know. He's the most likely culprit, but it's too easy. I mean, why would he? He can hurt me however he wants through the media. This is just overkill."
After an hour or so, the detective in charge came to talk to her. "We haven't found any prints or anything that will help with identifying anyone. And your cameras were hardwired into your house, so when the power was cut, so were they. We already checked to see if one of them caught the electric pole across the road, but there's nothing we can see."
Ellie sighed. "Thank you. I'll be sure to get those things fixed so we don't have this problem again."
"If you notice anything missing, be sure to let us know. It almost seems like this was more harassment than burglary. I've seen my share of robberies, and the way whoever this was tore through your house, they weren't looking for anything in particular."
Nita made sure he had Curtis' information. The detective closed his book. "Okay. I'll let you know if anything pans out."
Once the electrical service had been restored, Ellie called and had the alarm company come out. Luckily, even negative press didn't always taint the perks of being a movie star, and the representative arrived within the hour. The cameras were all reset and re-angled, and a battery backup was installed, something she felt silly that she hadn't thought of before. They also added motion sensors that would set off alarms and extra screechers on all the windows and doors.
By the time she had cleaned up and was ready for bed, Ellie felt like she was sleeping in Fort Knox. If anyone came back, she would know they were coming.
Chapter Five: Family Feud
Colton Hale
Colton held Sarah while his brothers stood around Vinia to prevent the two women from actually fist fighting. Their mother was so mad her face was beet red as she pushed against Tyson's chest to try and get him to move.
"You owe me an explanation, young lady!"
Sarah wasn't having any of it. "I don't owe you anything. As long as I have my bakery open when I'm supposed to and you have what you need, what else I do is none of your business."
Colton squeezed her a little bit. "Come on, now. You're not even old enough to drink yet. I think Mama still has some say about where you disappear to." He gave her a shake. "Or the fact that you stay out all night without telling anyone where you're going."
She struggled against him. "I don't have to tell you shit. You're not my father."
A pang shot through Colton's heart; the same one that he felt every time he was reminded that their father was gone. A thorn in his side, it was one of life's mysteries as to how they were going to avenge their father's death. Sarah suddenly slumped at his lack of response.
"I'm sorry, Cole. That was wrong to say."
"Ya think?" He let go of her as he felt the fight dissipate. Even Vinia seemed more subdued at the reminder of their patriarch's passing. "I'll be in the barn."
Sarah grabbed his arm. "Cole, stop. You don't have to leave."
He yanked away. "Maybe you'll learn to shut that trap of yours. Besides, I have to saddle up two horses for our guests."
Vinia straightened her apron. "Apologise, Sarah. Apologise to your brother."
A tear ran down Sarah's face. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry I don't fit into this family. I'm sorry I say the wrong things when I get mad. I'm sorry that we're here in the first place."
Tyson shook his head. 'That's a whole lot of sorry right there. And you don't mean a damned word of it. Hold up, Cole. I'm going with you."
